AB expanding Indigenous police services including the Blood Tribe
Alberta’s government is unilaterally funding 15 new police officers for the three First Nations police services in the province.
The Blood Tribe, Tsuut’ina Nation and Lakeshore Regional police services will each be able to hire five new police officers.
Funding for Indigenous police services is usually paid through the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program. Under this federally administered program, 52 per cent of funding is provided by the federal government and 48 per cent comes from the provinces.
The federal government has frozen this program for more than two years as it completes an overhaul. Rather than wait for the federal government to reform the program, Alberta will fund the total cost for 15 new police officers to address the underfunding of the First Nations police services in the province. Alberta is also providing an additional $150,000 to address short-term gaps created by the wait for reforms, along with a recruiting strategy for the new officers.
Alberta’s government has called on the federal government to expedite its review. Alberta would also like to see the current program reopened to allow for increased funding for First Nations police services and to allow for applications from First Nations seeking to establish a new police service.
“Every community in Alberta needs adequate policing resources to ensure the safety and security of residents is protected. With this new funding for more officers, Alberta is stepping up to fill in the federal shortfall and work with our First Nations partners towards a safer province for everyone who calls this land home.”
Tyler Shandro, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General
“I am proud to support more officers for First Nations policing, a change chiefs have asked for from Alberta’s government. Indigenous-led services like these are important for self-determination and reconciliation.”
Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations William Wadsworth, police commission chair at the Blood Tribe told the news conference said the funding was now needed.
“This support is much needed as our communities are growing in numbers, but at the same time we are experiencing a growing amount of other issues such as drug use and other difficult situations,” Wadsworth said at the June 23’s news conference.
“The Blood Tribe Police Service appreciates the provincial government for recognizing the need to provide additional funding to self-administered Indigenous police services, which will help ensure safer Indigenous communities,” explained Brice Iron Shirt, chief of police, Blood Tribe Police Service in a prepared statement.
Quick facts
• Lakeshore Regional Police Service, Blood Tribe Police Service and Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service serve seven First Nation communities and currently have 62 sworn police officers.
• The Blood Tribe Police Service provides policing to the largest First Nation in Canada and is located close to the Canada-U.S. border in southern Alberta.
• The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service provides policing to Tsuut’ina Nation, located next to Calgary, and Redwood Meadows, a non-Indigenous community.
• The Lakeshore Regional Police Service operates in five First Nations in northern Alberta.
• The new officers will be phased into the three First Nations policing services over the next four years.